The Elf Blog

Spring and Summer Entertaining

Spring and summer are a great time to entertain. Lots of good opportunities. Wonderful fresh foods to eat. And if the weather is good, you can entertain outside so you don't have to celan your house (except for access to a bathroom).

Take some time this weekend to think about your spring and summer entertaining plans. Here are som ideas to get you started:

•Mother's and/or Father's Day.

•Memorial Day and Fourth of July.

•Graduation parties.

•Bridal showers.

•A cookout can be a simple and elegant meal. You can grill meat, fish, veggies, fruit. Even pizza.

•Outdoor happy hour. All you need is a tub of ice and a blender. Especially good on Fridays.

How will you entertain this season?

The First day of Spring

It's the first day of Spring, the vernal equinox. That means, after today, we'll have more light than dark each day! So open a window, go out for a walk, get some flowers, eat fresh fruits and veggies. Do something to celebrate spring!

Last Weekend Before Spring

Spring starts next week, so this is technically the last week of winter. Of course, here in DC it's been almost 80 all week, so it's hard to think of that as winter. But that means now is a good time to get last minute deals on clearance sales of winter items like fireplace tools, heavy blankets, winter garb, and winter sports gear, as well as winter services like chimney cleaning and furnace servicing. But you should also start thinking about things you may need to address for spring, like yard work and air conditioning unit inspection. it's a good time to start remembering where things like the grill and the lawn furniture are stored so that you can get them out and clean them. You don't have to actually start addressing these things quite yet, but you do need to start making plans. Easter is only 3 weeks away!

Longer Days

One of my favorite things about this time of year is that the days get so much longer.  I don't know about you, but when I have more hours of daylight, I feel like I can accomplish a lot more.  I can run more errands, do more after work, take care of a few things before work, etc.

When it's dark by the time I leave the office, I just want to go home and delve into a good book or a craft or do some cooking.  But in the spring and summer, I don't feel the need to be in the house until 9.

Of course, that can make keeping the house tidy a bit more of a challenge!

Rainy Days (Even if they aren't Mondays)

Spring and summer have their fair share of rainy days (at least in Washinbgton, DC).  So it only makes sense to plan for the inevitable.

• For rainy weekend days, it's not a bad idea to keep a list of indoor chores you can tackle.  A rainy day is a great day to clean out a drawer or cabinet or closet.
• Keep a basic stock in your craft area so that you don't have to go out in the rain to work on your latest projet.
• I always like to have a few DVDs or a good book or a few magazines handy to read away a rainy day.
• Perfect a few rainy day recipes that take a little longer to cook.
• If you general workout outside (running, etc.), make sure you have an indoor alternative.

 

Spring Health

It seems as though spring has finally come to stay.  So here are some health tips to keep in mind.

• Wear sunscreen every day.  Buy yourself some moisturizer that includes sunscreen and put it on before you leave in the morning and again in the late afternoon.  If you are outdoors for extended periods (working out, gardening, walking, etc.), wear sunscreen, lip balm, and a hat.  Reapply sunscreen every few hours.  But keep in mind, SPFs over 50 don't add much protection.
• Drink more water.  Keep a pitcher near your desk at work and a pitcher in your fridge at home.  To make it extra yummy, toss in some slices of citrus or cucumber.  They add almost no calories but a lot of taste.
• Now that the weather is nice, get out and move around.  Garden, do big chores like beating rugs or yard cleanup, walk -- whatever strikes your fancy.  Just move!
• Visit a local farmers' market or farm store.  When you have a choice of so much lovely produce, it's easy to eat healthier.

The Simplest Way

The simplest way to make your house smell fresh and clean and smell like spring takes very little time or effort and no money.

The next time you are home on a nice day, open the windows nice and wide and let the fresh air flow through your house.

It's amazing what a difference it makes!  We are all so used to heated and air-conditioned envoronments that it's easy to forget how wonderful a natural breeze can be.

Spring Cooking

As the weather grows warmer, the variety of fruits and vegetables available at grocery stores and farmers markets improves considerably.  Taking advantage of this bounty is tasty AND healthy.

Try washing your produce as soon as you get home.  The less immediate preparation your fruits and veggies require, the more likely you are to use them.

Keep washed and dried salad greens in a salad spinner or a crsiper with a damp tea towel.  You can keep a small jar filled with a quick dressing so a yummy salad is never more than minutes away.

Keep a mix of berries on hand to toss on top of oatmeal or other cereal or over yogurt or ice cream.  They add flavor and health benefits.

Keep leftover veggies in the frdige.  They can be used to top salads or added to soups and sauces to boost the flavor and nutrtitional content.

Spring Entertaining

As the weather gets warmer, it's a great time to plan your spring entertainments.  There are lots of great reasons to have people over in the spring. 

• Depending on your religious background, you can host a Passover Seder, and Easter brunch, or a Beltane Fest.
• Mother's Day is a lovely day for a brunch.
• Know someone getting married this summer?  What about a spring shower?
• There's no reason you can't plan an early cookout before Memorial Day.
• I think a spring Sunday is an excellent time to host a ladies' tea.
• Take advantage of early spring produce to host a canning day.
• Use the extra sunlight and host a crafting party.
• Spruce up your spring wardrobe by having a clothes and accessories recycling party.

What do you have planned?

A Hint of Spring

Well, here in Washington, DC, there's FINALLY a hint of spring in the air.  We flirted with spring back in early March and then we returned to winter.  I'm going to believe that spring is actually here to stay this time. 

Since we have jsut begun the second quarter of the year, it's a good time to get out those New Year's resolutions you wrote three months ago.  Which ones are you keeping?  Which ones have you abandoned?  To what should you recommit yourself?  Are there any you need to revise?

My resolutions are a mixed bag.  Some I'm handling very well -- saving money, entertaining friends.  Others have always been better suited to summer.  A few I've re-interpreted in ways that work better. Some, I fear, shall have to be put off until a later date.

Still, just re-reading them periodically to remind myself of what I intended to accomplish helps me keep my focus where I want it.